What is your reaction to the announcement that the Pentagon has started paying Syrians up to $400 per month to fight ISIL?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 16:36:25 -0400

The Pentagon has begun paying modest stipends to the Syrian moderates it hopes to field in the fight against Islamic State militants, the military confirmed Monday.

Training of the first group of about 90 fighters began last month. They will be paid stipends of $250 to $400 per month, depending on their skills, performance and leadership, said Navy Cmdr. Elissa Smith, a Pentagon spokeswoman. Preparing the recruits for battle is expected to take several months.

The Pentagon expects to have 3,000 fighters trained by year's end, Smith said. The goal for 12 months is 5,400. She declined to say how many are currently being trained.

"For operational security, we will not announce when coalition-trained Syrian opposition forces enter into Syria," she said.

The training program — branded "critical" by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter — was delayed by several months because finding and vetting fighters who will adhere to laws of war and pledge to conduct themselves properly has proved difficult. Training is taking place in countries that neighbor Syria, including Jordan.

About 6,000 Syrians have volunteered for the training program, more than 4,000 of them awaiting to be vetted, Smith said. Recruiting continues.

The effort to field competent, trained forces in Iraq to battle militants from the Islamic State, known as ISIL and ISIS, has also been slow. ISIL swept through northern Iraq and large portions of eastern Syria last summer, seizing key cities. Iraqi forces have succeeded in taking back some of them, including Tikrit, but were chased without a fight from Ramadi last month.

The Pentagon had hoped to field 24,000 new Iraqi security forces by fall, Carter told Congress last week. But will fall short of that mark because 9,000 had signed up to train.

The Syrian moderates will be equipped with small arms and trained to maneuver and communicate. Their primary mission will be to protect their towns and villages from ISIL fighters. Eventually, they are also envisioned to become a viable opposition to the regime of President Bashar Assad. Civil war has shattered the country, killing 220,000 people and forcing millions from their homes.

Carter also acknowledged last week that the effort to field thousands of trained Syrian moderates has gone slower than expected.

"Our train-and-equip mission in Syria has been challenging," he said. "But the requirement for a capable and motivated counter-ISIL ground force there also means we must persist in our efforts."

Even a small force, if well trained, could make a difference in Syria, said David Phillips, director of the Peace-Building and Rights Program at Columbia University.

"They're not fighting a large army," Phillips said. "Even small numbers can be effective on the battlefield. Nobody envisions this to be an easy or quick win. Developing a nucleus of capable fighters is the right way to start."
Meanwhile, the U.S.-led air war against ISIS targets continues. Airstrikes on Sunday hit Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq, including groups of fighters and their vehicles.

Last week, the Pentagon reported that anti-ISIL fighters had captured ISIL territory on northern Syria. Marine Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidleytold reporters that Syrian Kurds, Arabs, Turks and non-Kurdish Christians "have been making significant gains" in the region, cutting ISIL supply lines.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/news/world/2015/06/22/pentagon-syria-isis/29113251/

Response by SPC Ryan D. made Jun 22 at 2015 4:37 PM

SPC Ryan D. — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 16:37:18 -0400

They should take that money and give it to our service members.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 22 at 2015 4:38 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 16:38:22 -0400

Um.. What is that in comparable US Dollar "buying power?"

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 22 at 2015 4:50 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 16:50:10 -0400

First thing that comes to mind is the SoI program instituted in Iraq after the surge. That had its benefits and was viewed as a general success by US battle space commanders. I think another argument can be made that these Syrians are nothing more than paid U.S. mercenaries. Either way many agree we need to put some boots on the ground to mitigate ISIS. If this is an effective approach which inexpensively keeps U.S. SM out while achieving our objective than I'm for it.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 22 at 2015 4:51 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 16:51:43 -0400

Sounds like another "free cheese" line.....can you say corruption will runamuck!

Those of us that lived this in Iraq & Afghanistan remember the quagmire of units not getting paid, or the Provincial Governors taking a cut from every recruit...issuing the Soldiers a bank card while they skim funds from the forces within their districts....reminds of an Op in Afghanistan, Operation Runamuk......sure there are some long tabbers that were out there on this op as well!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 22 at 2015 6:17 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:17:57 -0400

And I'm sure we will have more textbook examples of accountability of funds, ensuring those paid actually do anything, and 1/2 the money doesn't go into one person's bank. How could this possibly go wrong?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 22 at 2015 8:34 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 20:34:57 -0400

Great, we've gone from contractor wars to hiring mercs. And when they take that money and hand it to ISIS who's going to have more egg on their face, the Syrians or us?? Dumb, da-dumb dumb, DUMB!!!!

Response by PO3 Michael James made Jun 22 at 2015 8:43 PM

PO3 Michael James — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 20:43:42 -0400

What the Flock over, $400. per month?? Bite Me !!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 1:23 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 01:23:01 -0400

In the interest of brevity, I can boil it down to two words:
Money Squandered.